Zipline: Aftermath Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for Zipline: Aftermath, the exciting follow-up to P. Anthony Michael's thriller Zipline!

 Zipline: Aftermath by P. Anthony Michael is the continuation of the Zipline series where readers are introduced to a group of friends out to have their last “hurrah” before life and responsibilities began pulling at them. This last trip was meant to be a fun zipline expedition down a mountain. However, it turned into some much bigger. Zipline: Aftermath continues the story of this group of characters, and their lives since that fateful weekend at the mountain.

Zipline: Aftermath stays true to the elements of the first book with the same color scheme for the cover. With this cover, we get a man in uniform kneeling while behind him is the outline of a city. On either side of him are glowing eyes. On one side, the eyes are glowing blue, and on the other side, the eyes are glowing orange.

Author Michael brings Zipline: Aftermath to readers two years after the end of Zipline. The friends survived the mountain, but several questions still remained. What really happened up there? What are the implications of what happened to Neal after being attacked by two different creatures up on the mountain?

Neal and Gail are married in this latest installment. Neal has joined the police force, and he’s doing a lot of good. He’s getting the bad guys off the streets and racking up quite the reputation. He’s focused on doing good, and making sure that only the bad guys go down. This has gained him both good and bad attention from the other cops on the force.

It sounds like a good thing, right? Neal uses his newfound abilities to accomplish a safer neighborhood for the people where he calls home. Working to make sure that his pregnant wife has a safe place to live is a benefit of all of this as well. But what happens when Neal starts having bizarre nightmares? Well, that’s where this story gets interesting.

Zipline: Aftermath explores the aftermath of Neal having two warring sides inside of him. He is using his new abilities to hunt criminals, but what he doesn’t know is that something is about to start hunting him in turn. Author Michael is going to put Neal to the test when the danger follows him home.

Compared to the first book in the Zipline series, Zipline: Aftermath is a step above. This novel gives readers some horror elements but focuses more instead on the suspense and thrills. A killer is roaming the streets targeting the homeless. Things get more complicated when a reporter is targeted and killed. So readers get the sense that this reporter saw something that they shouldn’t have and paid the ultimate price.

Readers get a sense of rivalry between Neal and a fellow cop, Lieutenant Clay. Neal is creeping up on Lieutenant Clay’s arrest record, and that creates a bone of contention between the two men. It’s more one-sided than anything, but Neal gets the sense that there is more going on than meets the eye.

Zipline: Aftermath is an intriguing novel that does a good job at drawing the reader in. Author Michael weaves a story that encompasses more than just Neal’s work life, but his home life as well. All of the group show up in this novel, but the story focuses mostly on Neal. That doesn’t mean that Neal’s family and friends don’t get drawn into the chaos, because they do.

When it comes to the “horror” aspect of this installment to the series, it’s there at random places in the story. However, it isn’t the focal of the story. Zipline: Aftermath is more about the suspense and drama. This book is told from the third person point of view, and works on emphasizing just how unique Neal has become.

As Zipline: Aftermath draws to a close, readers will get a sense of a solid conclusion. Author Michael is going to throw in a few answers to questions that were left to linger at the end of book one. But while you get some closure, you are also getting the sense that there is more to come. So, we’ll see where things go from here.

4 stars

ZIPLINE: AFTERMATH

Publication Date: August 1, 2024

Genre: Thriller

Gail and her friends may have escaped the mountain, but now they all have to deal with the AFTERMATH. Two years later, all have entered the workforce. Neal and Gail are contentedly married, and she’s pregnant with twins on the way. But Neal is unsettled as special abilities emerge, which he has to learn to embrace. Worse yet, he’s having strange visions of gruesome murders that actually happened as if he was there. Now Neal, Gail, and friends are wondering if he is truly going rabid. As they dig deeper into the mystery, they find the truth is far worse and more insidious than anyone could imagine. Aftermath is a mystery suspense continuation to Zip Line that will grip you from beginning until the very end.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Tour Organized by: 

@RRBookTours (IG)

 

A Shift in Shadows Review Spotlight

We're touring A Shift in Shadows by Maddox Grey and we are so excited to share it with you all! This is the first book in the Lost Legacies series, and we can't recommend it enough!

A Shift in Shadows is the first book in the Lost Legacies series by Maddox Grey. This urban fantasy novel is going to bring a variety of both paranormal and fantasy characters together into one book. 

From the beginning, you're getting thrown into the deep end. You're meeting Nemain under a slew of dire circumstances, and those circumstances are that she's being held and abused by vampires. Why? Well, apparently there is some former romance that went sour between herself and a particular vampire. He didn't take the rejection well, and it seems he has no intentions of allowing her a life outside of him being in it. Someone should remind him that..."No, means no." 

While Nemain may start out in a bad situation she doesn't stay in it for long. She gets rescued by another vamp, and then the story shifts forward in time a bit. Not a lot, but just enough that she's managed to evade Sebastian for a time. Unfortunately, that clock is running out and fast on her staying "out of sight." 

A Shift in Shadows holds a lot of promise, but it comes off as really chaotic. The storyline seems direction-less. Nemain is a "finder", she's a shifter, but she has magic. She has no idea where her magic comes from, but she knows it's dangerous. She also knows that if the daemons and fae find out about that they will try to kill her. This, of course, raises a lot of questions. Like...what the hell is going on? LOL! 

Nemain is a bisexual/non-coformist main character. She has multiple relationships with a variety of characters in this book. Hey, we're cheering her on all the way, because it's a refreshing twist to a typical trope. You get reverse harem vibes, without the true solid commitments. There's a reason for her aversion to giving her heart truly to someone, and the author lays that out plainly for readers. 

Hoping for some really steamy scenes? Well, you're probably going to be disappointed, especially when they are pointed in CW. You get a couple here and there, but quite a few of the steamy scenes are "fade to black." Basically, you're getting a hint that something is about to go down, but you don't get the scene playing out on the page. It's a touch disappointing, but it is what it is. 

We wanted to love this book with its conglomerate of various characters and drama, but it needed direction from the beginning. We needed some background on Nemain. We do get some here and there, but it needed to be done in a more cohesive manner that will elevate the story and draw this reader in more solidly. As it is, it left us with more questions than answers. 

Will we continue this series? Well, that's up in the air. We might, because we're intrigued by Nemain's story, but we can only hope for a more cohesive storyline moving forward. As for this book? Well, unfortunately, it falls flat. The beginning is too all over the place, and by the time the story settles in and starts getting truly interesting, you're halfway through it.

Soft 4 out of 5 stars

A Shift in Shadows (Lost Legacies Book 1)

Publication Date: October 2021 (First Edition)

Genre: Fantasy Romance

• Badass Morally Grey FMC

• Revenge Quest

• Hidden/Forbidden Magic

• She Saves Herself

• Touch Him and Die

• Sweet Golden Retriever Love Interest

• Morally Grey Villain Love Interest

• Witty Banter

• Found Family

• Queer Rep (FMC is queer/bi, nonbinary characters, queer relationships)

A wicked feline shifter. A cruel warlock.

And a dark secret that can devour worlds.

A bloody heart. That has been my birthday gift every year from the warlock I once loved. He used me, so I left him. And found the love of my life. We shared a blissful life together until Sebastian destroyed it all with one sweeping declaration.

You will always be mine.

After failing in my attempt to get revenge and barely escaping. I find myself once again starting over with the support of my friends and trying to let go of the past. When I meet the sweet and adorably innocent local werewolf, Andrei, I think I might finally have a real shot at finding happiness again. I should have known better.

Sebastian has found me and he’ll do what he always does—hurt those I love. But I have a secret. The dark magic I keep chained deep within my soul is a weapon just waiting to be unleashed. I could finally claim my revenge and protect everyone important to me. But my kind of magic is forbidden. And the price for using it may be my life.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

CW:  Explicit sex scenes and blood drinking courtesy of vampires

Road Kill Texas Horror Vol 8 Anthology Review Spotlight

Looking for something darkly delicious? Well, Black Tide Book Tours and HellBound Books has got you covered! Brace yourself for a book packed with twisted horror stories from the minds of some pretty epic Texans. Read on at your own risk! Hope you enjoy! 

 Road Kill Texas Horror by Texas Writers Vol 8 is packed from stem to stern with horror novels written by...yep, you guessed it, Texas authors. So, basically what we’re getting is some of the best quality work you can find out there, right? Because Texas is just that great. LOL! Hey! Stop looking at me like that...I’m completely UNbiased here. So I claim as a Texan myself and proud of it. LOL!

But for real, for real...this anthology is packed with horrorific tales from the twisted minds of many of these authors that will leave you with a mixed bag of reactions. Some will draw you in and keep you page-turning...to the rather abrupt endings that they tease you with. While others will leave you with the macabre horrors that their characters suffered and the twisted fates that saw their ultimate downfall.

In Road Kill Texas Horror, there is a little something for everyone. You’re going to get stories that take you back in time before racism became the more “toned-down” entity that it is today. You’re going to get stories that will flick at your conscious like a snake’s tongue as it hunts for its next victim. You’re going to be treated to stories with ghosts that re-enter the world through a portal that...honestly...should not be, but hey...who cares about the “rules” when horror? Horror is meant to break them like bones and grind them into dust.

There are some seriously delicious hidden gems tucked away inside this anthology. Twisted stories that will grip you and keep you coming back for more. The desire riding you hard to find out...how does this play out for this particular character? What twisted fate does this author have in store for them? Bring on the macabre you’ll shout! But don’t say it too loud or something just might answer...and not in the way you’ll be hoping.

With the start of Road Kill Texas Horror you are gifted an introduction by Bret McCormick. This individual tells you about all the submissions that they went through to piece together this particular anthology. A lot of work and detail went into it, that’s for sure. A lot of rejections from the sounds of it as this person went to the lengths of trying to find the perfect collection to bring this anthology to life. Were they successful in their endeavors? Well, all readers are fickle creatures, and we are no exception. Some will say yes, others...eh, not so much. But all that matters at the end of the day dear reader...is you.

This collection starts things off with a story that will challenge your conscious. It will beg the moral question concerning the young character who is the focus of this story. “What would you have done, if you were in her shoes?” “Lonely Death on a Wednesday, 1 pm, at a Motel Outside Marfa, is a story that sticks with you in the most intriguing way. Is because there is a gruesome murder with blood spatter everywhere? No. Is it a tragic death of someone who has been left to rot in an abandoned motel room completely forgotten? No. It’s a tragedy that could have been avoided.

The young character who bears witness to the tragedy...is written as aloof. Like there is some form of disconnect concerning the child. But what is it exactly? You’ll find yourself questioning her behavior. You’ll honestly find yourself questioning the entire scene that unfolds. It’s a sad tale, but brings more of a horror of humanity to the forefront.

Nature lovers...or haters...LOL! Whichever end of the spectrum you may find yourself on...”Nature Calls” by E.R. Bills is going to be one that either you’re going to greedily devour...or one that will have you forever swearing off any outdoor excursions. Ya know...just in case something that is depicted in this twisted story...could actually happen. LOL!

The beginning of “Nature Calls” starts out interestingly enough. Something fast, huge, and scary is killing humans. What is it? Well, author Bills insists on keeping you in the dark. What could it be? What is it? Is there any way to escape this dangerous thing as it appears to destroy everything it crosses?

Well, we recommend that you settle in on this story, because the interesting bits? They’re scattered throughout...much like how this creature leaves it’s victims. Too soon? LOL! Though, when the revelation comes of what it is...and the acceptance of the characters...well, that’s going to take some time, but it’s worth it. The ending? Jaw-dropping.

Want to know which one pretty much blew our mind? Well, that’s easy enough...”That’s a Peculiar Stain on the Carpet.” This story...this one we should have recorded our facial reactions because...boooooy howdy! We did NOT see any of author Jae Mazer’s twisted imagination coming at us by a long shot. This book is packed with twisted elements that are NOT for the faint of heart. For some readers...it’s going to be down right cringy. So...you’ve been warned. Proceed with caution. LOL! But honestly? For us? The weirder, the better, and author Mazer delivers in spades. We didn’t like some of the elements of this book *coughs – the cat scene* especially, but this is one of the stories where you just cannot predict what is going to happen next. Honestly, those are the best kinds. LOL!

Another story that we absolutely devoured? “Sundown” by Jonathan Louis Duckworth. OMG! This is another one that just grabbed us and kept us page-turning to the end. Anything with some form of twisted lore, and the consequences in dabbling in it...we are going to eat it up. Author Duckworth takes his time laying out the foundation for what’s coming, but the wait is worth every second! While you’re waiting, you’re not bored. You’re curious about the characters. Your curiosity is going to drive you to dig deeper and to learn more. It’s absolutely riveting.

Now, we could give you a taste or glimpse about more stories in this collection, but then...what would motivate you to grab a copy and dive in yourself? So, we’ll leave things with those few that we’ve given you a tiny taste of. There is literally something for everyone in this collection. Some will keep you page-turning, while others...(for us) may end up lulling you to sleep. But one thing is for sure...Texas is beautifully represented in this collective of twisted deliciousness.

Horror lovers unite, because Road Kill Texas Horror is not be missed...or you’ll regret it.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Gripping stories
• Twisted characters
• Twisted situations
• Deliciously gorey
• Page-turners

Cons:

• None of true merit

A huge shout out thank you to all of the authors who participated in this anthology, HellBound Books, and Black Tide Book tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! It was a lot of fun! As always, I look forward to what comes next with Black Tide Book Tours and the darkly delicious books from HellBound books.  

Road Kill: Texas Horror by Texas Writers - Vol 8

by Texas Authors; Compiled & Edited by Patrick C Harrison III

Black Tide Book Tours

May 7-10

Mind the moon when you leave the theater! Road Kill: Texas Horror by Texas Writers returns, and Vol. 8 definitely goes Splatterbump in the night!

It’s a monstrous mosh of fallen angels, prepubescent prescience, tempestuous incest, intergalactic blues, a Gulliverian massacre, cynophile racists, murderous rodents, a prehistoric Devil Head, the return of Bram Stoker’s forgotten hero, and so much more...

Featuring stories from the grand master of horror himself, Joe R. Lansdale, Emma E. Murray, Jae Mazer, Bret McCormick, Madison Estes, Chris Miller, James H. Longmore, Jonathan Louis Duckworth, Robert Stahl, Matt Micheli, Elford Alley, Iphigenia Strangeworth, Jacob Austin, R. L. Olvitt, Lawrence Buentello, Tom Bont, Bev Vincent, and the incomparable E. R. Bills.

Universal link for the book on Amazon

About the Editor

Patrick C. Harrison III (PC3, if you prefer) is an author of horror, splatterpunk, and all forms of speculative fiction. His current publications include GRANDPAPPY, 100% MATCH, A SAVAGE BREED, and VAMPIRE NUNS BEHIND BARS, among others. His works can also be found in various anthologies, including AND HELL FOLLOWED and ROAD KILL: TEXAS HORROR BY TEXAS AUTHORS VOL. 4.

PC3 is also an editor, having worked on numerous books for Death's Head Press, D&T Publishing, and Fedowar Press, as well for popular authors like Aron Beauregard and Danel J. Volpe. For editing services, feel free to contact PC3 at pc3@pc3horror.com.

Follow PC3's FREE substack—pc3horror.substack.com—for frequent horror and exploitation movie reviews, as well as updates on his fiction.

About the Publisher

HellBound Books are the veritable tour de force in the independent publishing world — for eight years and counting, they have published novels, novellas, and bestselling anthologies of exemplary horror, bizarro, and all things dark — the type of tales from exciting new authors guaranteed to keep you wide awake in the small hours and checking the inky-black, coagulating shadows beneath your bed just one last time…
They are incredibly proud to be champions of the newest, brightest upcoming authors as well as home to more established writers. Their objective is to bring to you — wonderful readers — the very best in the dark genres. They are proud to say all HellBound Books titles are available in traditional-sized paperback and ebook, along with a few very special hard cover books, too.

https://hellboundbookspublishing.com/
https://twitter.com/HellBoundBooks
https://www.instagram.com/hellboundbooks

 

Dirty Spirits Review Spotlight

"The Fall of the House of Usher meets Evil Dead 2. Experience an offbeat occult ghost story from the twisted mind of Sawney Hatton." With that...welcome to the book tour for Dirty Spirits by Sawney Halton in association with Black Tide Book Tours.

 Looking for a twisted paranormal packed horror story? Well, here’s some good news...Sawney Hatton has a book that will draw you in and have you page-turning to find out how it all ends. Dirty Spirits is a book that is not to be missed for fans of novels that are twisted and more than a little bit of horrific.

Dirty Spirits is a standalone horror novel with paranormal elements written by Sawney Hatton. This author moves to draw readers in with a cover that really makes you stop and take a second look. What do you see? What makes you pause and do a double take? The sight of a head coming out of a woman’s torso? The fact that she’s holding a bottle of whiskey and pouring it into his mouth? Or is it the cut that mars her flesh and where the head appears to be erupting from? Regardless of what makes you pause, it’ll be enough to tempt you to pick this book up and see where the storyline leads you.

Dirty Spirits is a story that is heavily focused on drug addiction and alcoholism. Two of the characters – Liam and Michelle, have struggled for years with these two particular substance abuse demons. It destroyed their careers and relationships with other people. But one day, push came to shove and Michelle made a decision for herself. But at what cost?

Dirty Spirits starts off by depicting a news story about an ancestor of Liam’s who passed away by fire on his ship. He was called a “professed necromancer.” Typically that means that people feared him and would have eventually taken steps to see his demise. This is just the beginning of this story, and promises much more to come.

Author Hatton paints a story where Michelle breaks away from her toxic relationship with Liam. Things weren’t always bad, but one day...things escalated from bad to worse and things just kept going downhill. Ultimately, if she hadn’t made a choice, she would have inevitably followed him down a very dark path. But because she chose differently, her path took a different course than Liam’s.

Dirty Spirits runs the race of happening in “present” time for the main line of the story. But author Hatton also takes time to send readers back in time to when Liam and Michelle met and how their lives intermingled. Author Hatton shows readers that Michelle and Liam met at rehab. They both got clean together, they established a romance, and things looked good. But then it begs the question...what happened? Where did things go wrong? Well, hold on to your butts because that particular element? It’s coming. Boy is it coming! Prepare for some seriously interesting elements that even YOU, the reader, won’t see coming. Who would?! Honestly...only author Hatton, and that makes this a delicious twisted element to behold.

Michelle is a troubled soul. That much is apparent, but you get to see that she has people who care about her – Doug, and her father are two such characters. Yes, Liam loved her, but in his own way. You’ll see that Liam, after a particular scene in this book, became Michelle’s enabler. He encouraged and pushed her to surrender to the vices that originally plagued them both and ultimately led to his untimely death.

But while Liam may be dead...that doesn’t mean that he’s gone. Nooo...Liam still lingers, and he has no intent to let Michelle go. In his mind, she belongs to him, and he means to have her. Do her feelings matter? Not a bit. Liam and his family have plans put in place and they are determined to make sure that Michelle helps them fulfill each and every one of them regardless of her feelings. These people will manipulate her any way they can to make sure that Liam has her...even in the afterlife.

Dirty Spirits has a slightly rocky beginning of where it seems like the story is trying to find it’s footing. The story shifts back and forth in the narrative from being present day to the past at random moments. Once you gain your footing with this story, it’s going to engage you and pull you to delve deeper. You’ll be compelled to learn more about Michelle’s and Liam’s toxic relationship. You’ll see how it evolves and ultimately devolves. Hate to say it, but you can thank Liam’s parents. Yeah, we said what we said – sorry not sorry. LOL!

One thing that can be safely said about Dirty Spirits is that there are going to be a lot of elements and scenes that you’re simply not going to see coming. Author Hatton is going to make sure you keep coming back for more when it comes to this book. You’re going to want to know what happens next. What is going to happen to Doug? What is going to happen to Michelle? Are either one of them going to survive the drama, the danger and ultimately the fall out of what takes place in this book? You’re going to want to know – does the image on the cover become depicted in the story itself? Want a spoiler? Well, whether you do or not...we’re not giving you one. LOL! Not this time anyways.

As stated in the trigger warnings there is a lot of focus on alcoholism in this book. It is a primary point of the storyline and isn’t overdone. Author Hatton creates characters who are struggling with real issues and their struggles make them seem all the more realistic. Is there sex in this book? Yes, there is. Technically it can be classified as R-rated, but it’s far from being graphic in anyway. There aren’t heavy details, it’s just enough for you to know that either characters are having sex or there is something sexual in nature taking place.

As a standalone novel, Dirty Spirits has an interesting ending. The final chapters work to ramp up the drama and take the story in an unexpected direction. Author Hatton takes two particular characters and lets them have some unexpected breakout moments that lend them toward the light of...dare we say...hero? Shocking, right? But it’s definitely unexpected and does the job of keeping you on your toes.

Dirty Spirits is an interesting novel that will grip you and intrigue you to the very end.

Pros:

• Gripping storyline
• Realistic characters
• Twists
• Page-turner
• Nice amount of horror

Cons:

• Rocky beginning

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Sawney Hatton, and Black Tide Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next!

Dirty Spirits

by Sawney Hatton

 The Fall of the House of Usher meets Evil Dead 2. Experience an offbeat occult ghost story from the twisted mind of Sawney Hatton.

They say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, and Doug believed it.

He didn’t expect to fall in love with an addict. Once he did, he knew the relationship would be challenging. He knew sometimes it would blow chunks and rain shit. He expected it. He prepared for it. But there are some things you can never imagine happening, crazy stuff you can never prepare for no matter how hard you try. All Doug can do now is hang on and hope the love of his life isn’t dragged back into hell by her ex-fiancé who can’t move on.

Because while Liam Fowlington may be dead… he’s far from departed.

Trigger warnings:
Drug & alcohol addiction plays a large part in the story. R-rated sex and violence.

About the Author

Sawney Hatton is an author, editor, and screenwriter who has long loved taking trips to the dark side.

Weaned on a steady diet of paranormal horror and creature features, he quickly developed an appetite for all things macabre and monstrous. With early literary influences as tonally disparate as Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, Evelyn Waugh’s The Loved One, and Marquis de Sade’s The 120 Days of Sodom, he enjoys fusing the sinister with the satirical, the abominable with the absurd.

Other incarnations (reincarnations?) of Sawney have produced marketing videos, attended all-night film fests, and played the banjo and sousaphone (not at the same time).

As of this writing he is still very much alive.

https://www.sawneyhatton.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sawney.hatton
https://www.instagram.com/sawneyhatton

  

 

Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds Review Spotlight

Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds is the first book in K.R. Gastreich's Soul Masters series. Prepare to embark on a world-blending novel as Mayela comes to learn more about who she is and the dangers that she unwittingly embarked upon. Now, she must face the consequences of her actions and work to come out the other side alive. 

Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds piques readers' interest with a forest-style cover with what appears to be a portal. Where does this portal lead to? Is it a new fantastical world? Or is there something dark and insidious on the other side? The only way to find out is to delve into this story and explore as the story unfolds.

Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds is the first in this new series, and it alternates between the present and the past. You get get to see some of Mayela's childhood. Mayela remembers events that happened but she thinks that they are just hallucinations from overly stressed mind. But is the truth something else? As you reflect at random moments back to her childhood you'll see that there is more going on than meets the eye. 

Is Mayela in denial as to the things that she is seeing? The answer to that question is a touch complex and one that requires you to delve deeper into the story to truly understand what is going on. 

The dynamics between Mayela and Nathan, when he enters the picture, is interesting. She's drawn to him not realizing what is actually going on. That there is already a connection between them. But what is with this other guy? The coffee shop owner's financial advisor? The way that he behaves is extremely off. Is he dangerous? Is he something like Nathan?

These questions will push at you more than once when he makes an appearance at the oddest of times. We literally reared back at one specific unexpected appearance. You get the sense that something bad is about to happen, but...she's saved by the sound of heels on flooring! Think it's Nathan coming to her rescue? You may want to guess again.

Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds is an interesting story, but we feel like it could have benefited from having a prologue. A prologue would have given readers a foundation to build on. As it is, Mayela remembers certain things that readers have no idea even transpired already. It's like we're rushing to play catch-up to something already in motion. 

There are other things that just hit wrong when it comes to the storyline. When the truth starts to come out Mayela gets upset and claims that Nathan has been dishonest with her. We were really thrown by this because there is no sign that they were even texting back and forth that heavily before the date. So it translates to her being over-dramatic...and for what?

The boat rocks a bit from time to time with the back and forth between the characters, but it does even out here and there. You get some questions answered, and others you're left with, but this is just the first in the series, so who knows where things will go from here. 

4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, K.R. Gastreich, and Bewitching Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds

Soul Masters

Book One
K.R. Gastreich

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: February 7, 2024
ISBN: 978-1509253302
ASIN: B0CP6GMWRK
Number of pages: 320
Word Count: 90k
Cover Artist: Kristian Norris

Tagline: He wants to claim her soul. But can she capture his heart?

Book Description:

On a hike through the forest, Mayela stumbles into a terrifying world where immortals hunt souls. To survive she secures protection from a Soul Master. When he demands payment, Mayela fights back. But how can she fight the desire consuming her heart?

Every soul Nathan claims expands the power of his realm. In Mayela, he finds a rare gift that could guarantee his place among the Soul Masters. All he must do is secure her allegiance without losing his heart. And Nathan has no heart to lose. Or does he?  

With eternity at stake, Mayela and Nathan ignite a transcendent passion that breaks all the rules. Among the Soul Masters, a malevolent force awakens. The final hunt is on…

Amazon BN Bookshop

Excerpt:

Then everything froze. Joni, the customers, the cars outside. All movement simply stopped. The chime on the front door sounded. My throat went dry. Somehow, I knew what was happening. I knew who had arrived, though I didn’t understand how or why.

Twisting around, I peered over the rim of the booth. Standing in the doorway was the man from my hallucinations, a creature of the dark plains. Tall and slim, broad-shouldered, dark in aspect. That same man had beheaded a snake in my kitchen. Not my kitchen, I reminded myself. The illusion of my kitchen, part of the same hallucination of an impossible world. The Hunting Grounds, he’d called it. Where we go to hunt souls.

My mind spun with the impossibility of what I was seeing. He couldn’t be real.  Yet here he was, in Joni’s shop. Except, he looked different. His hair was peppered gray instead of black. His skin seemed a shade darker. Or maybe lighter? It was like wrapping my head around a mirage, trying to remember what he looked like in my nightmares. But the simple force of his presence, the quiet luminescence of his spirit, was unmistakable. That was him.

Without so much as a glance in my direction, the man stepped into the shop and started toward the counter. Everything stirred at once. Several people looked his way. Joni let go a long, low whistle.

“Well, I’ll be!” she exclaimed. "We haven’t had anyone that drop-dead gorgeous walk in here since…Well, ever!”

She kept staring, mouth agape, as he ordered coffee. Then her face lit up, and she jumped into action, wiping down the table next to me.

“I’ve got an idea,” she said. “I think you should go for him.”

“What?” I croaked.

“He’s totally your style.”

“I don’t date men in suits.”

“What are you talking about?” She laughed. “Look at him! It’s fate. I can feel it.”

“Joni –”

“Sir!” She called. “Sir, we’ve got an empty table right over here. Next to the windows.”

Holy crap! I sank deeper into my seat. “I’m serious, Joni! Send him somewhere else.”

“Straighten up, beautiful.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Give it a shot. What’ve you got to lose?”

Then she was gone. I cast about frantically for an escape, but there was no back exit from the booth. Unless I wanted to crash through the window. Could I do that? Crash through the window?

Yeah, I could do that. But I’d have to leave my insects behind, and –

And there he was, taking the table next to me. His chair scraped against the floor. His clothes rustled as he settled in. Minutes passed while my heart pounded inside my chest. I kept my face turned, pretended to stare out the window, wondered whether it would hurt to feel the glass shatter against my skin.

Idle talk filled the coffee shop. Customers came and went, orders were taken, steam forced through frothing milk.

Still the man said nothing.

I snuck a glance in his direction. Damn, he was handsome. Heart stoppingly so. Desire tugged at my gut, a strangely familiar sense of attraction, as if we’d known each other before this moment. As if I’d been bound to him in a time before memory.

About the Author:

K.R. Gastreich is a recipient of the OZMA Award for fantasy fiction and the Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency, as well as a winner of the Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest. Her fantasy novels feature high-stakes romance, gripping battles, and darkly lyrical prose. In addition to Soul Masters and The Silver Web trilogy, she has published short stories in Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, and World Jumping.

A proud native of the American Midwest, K.R. Gastreich lived for many years in Texas and then in Latin America before returning to the Kansas City Metro where she grew up. When not writing she enjoys hiking, camping, studying dance, and spending time with her family.

To learn about new releases and other events, visit K.R. Gastreich’s website at krgastreich.com, or follow her on Instagram @EolynChronicles.

Website: https://www.krgastreich.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/EolynChronicles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063135194840

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4431702.K_R_Gastreich

 

The Devil's Waltz Review Spotlight

 

We are so excited to be touring The Devil’s Waltz by Jessi Elliot! Make sure to grab this beauty on February 27th!

Looking for a thrilling paranormal romance novel? Look no further than author Jessi Elliott's The Devil's Waltz! The Devil's Waltz is the first book in her Love in Hell series, and you're not going to want to miss out on this book. This novel is especially for readers who enjoy sassy characters, and romance that leaves you wondering..." where exactly do they stand NOW?" LOL!

The Devil's Waltz is book one in the Love in Hell series and quickly introduces readers to Camille Morgan. Camille appears to be an "average" woman, but she's not. The paranormal world swirls all around her, and she's more than a little aware of it. Until a few years prior, she was very much a part of it.

What happened to change that? The loss of her sister. Instead of it spurring her on to seek revenge for the loss, she chooses the exact opposite. She turns her back on becoming a demon hunter, like her family wants, and says she wants NOTHING to do with that life. 

So, now she works at a coffee shop as a barista. She doesn't even like coffee, but it's a living. Well, at least until she finishes school and then can get the hell up out of Seattle and find a new place to call home. If only it could be that simple, right? Well, too bad it never is. 

Brace yourself because chaos is about to erupt for Cami and once she gets over the shock...she's less than a "happy camper." Cue demon attack in 3...2...1...and GO! Yep, out of nowhere, she gets jumped. You can bet that she's wishing that she had some of that demon-fighting training under her belt, but since she doesn't? She's going to have to wing it. 

Cue "white knight" entrance. Okay, he's far from a "white knight." Xander has his own agenda, but Cami doesn't need to know that...yet. But Cami's mind immediately and I mean IMMEDIATELY jumps to..."this was a set up by my parents. Screw them." 

Okay, we took issue with this assumptive leap by her. Couldn't she at least have said "thank you" to the "nice gentleman" for saving her ass? No? Well, just thought we'd ask. LOL! Sassy is fine, but downright rude? Yeah, that's a no-go for launch for us. Okay, she does eventually say "thank you" but the immediate attitude after the event...not a good look. Not for us anyway. 

We get it. She wants no part in the paranormal world after what happened to her sister, but apparently...she's going to be drawn in whether she likes it or not. 

The back-and-forth that follows Cami and Xander throughout this book is engaging. No doubt! She's into him, and then...the truth comes out! Cue scathing drama, chaos, angst and so much more! It makes for some superb reading! Trust us on that one! LOL! We can't get enough of it and we ate it up with a great big spoon! LOL! 

The eruption of drama and the revelation of Xander's endgame...it's wild. But it all leads you to something that you're going to partially expect...and then you won't at all. But trust us on this...it's going to fuel you to be watching with hawk eyes for book two. We for sure don't want to miss what happens next, because it's going to be good! 

Bring on book two!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Jessi Elliott, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next! 

                                                    The Devil’s Waltz (Love in Hell #1)

Expected Publication Date: February 27, 2024

Genre: Spicy Paranormal Romance

“The darkest parts of me light up for her.”

❤️‍🔥 Lovers to Enemies…to Lovers?
❤️‍🔥 Forbidden Romance
❤️‍🔥 Snarky Banter
❤️‍🔥 Mental Health Rep
❤️‍🔥 Angst
❤️‍🔥 Spiceeeee

Discover what happens when a young woman from a family of demon hunters falls in love with the prince of hell in this spicy paranormal romance.

It’s been five years since her sister was killed by a demon and Camille Morgan swore off the family business of demon hunting. Now a college sophomore, Cami is determined to get her degree and move far away from Seattle—and all things paranormal.

But when Cami becomes the target of a demon attack she’s convinced is a ploy by her parents to drag her back into training, the wildly charming and attractive Xander Kane comes to her rescue. Except her savior isn’t a hunter. Or even human.

Xander is a demon, the alluring prince of hell, whose magnetic presence leaves Cami both captivated and conflicted, especially when she finds out he plans on using her to destroy the demon hunters once and for all.

Caught between her growing affection for Xander and her loyalty to her family, Cami struggles to make a decision that could shatter her and endanger the lives of those she loves.

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Pre-order Here!

About the Author

Jessi Elliott is a paranormal and fantasy romance author who lives in Ontario, Canada with her adorable calico cat, Phoebe.

When she’s not working on her next book, she likes to hang out with friends and family, get lost in a steamy romance novel, watch Friends, and drink coffee.

You can find Jessi at www.jessielliott.com and on social media @authorjessielliott. Join her newsletter to stay up to date on book news!

Book Tour @rrbooktours1

Bottle Service: A Bomb-Ass Genie Vacation Story Cover Reveal Spotlight

 We’re thrilled to present the illustrated Cover of Bottle Service: A Bomb-Ass Genie Vacation Story by Brindi Quinn!

                                           Bottle Service: A Bomb-Ass Genie Vacation Story

Publication Date: Summer 2024

Publisher: Evermore Books (@neverandeverbooks)

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romcom

The first time, she found it in a thrift store. The second, it washed up on a shore.

Unofficial newlywed Dolly Jones deserves a bomb-ass genie honeymoon.

So it would be really nice if none of her new brothers-in-law would upset the fantasyland flora and sparkling waves of her perfect magical vacation, orchestrated by her perfect magical boyfriend. But for the new laird and his lady, a peaceful island getaway may be nothing more than wishful thinking, when a familiar bottle appears washed up on the beach in relentless pursuit of Dolly as its master—who, by all accounts, already has a genie and a soulmate.

While Velis works to strengthen the cloaking magic over their beach rental in hopes of hiding them from his meddlesome family, Dolly begins to experience strange occurrences around the island that may or may not be charm magic at work. Is that feeling of fate tugging at her all in her head? And in the aftermath of a crumbling family, who will have to sacrifice what in order to live their happily ever after?

BOTTLE SERVICE: A BOMB-ASS GENIE VACATION STORY is the romantic, fantastic second-coming-of-age story of five flawed twenty-somethings from different realms, battling their inner demons and each other, one wish at a time.

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Cover Reveal Organized By: @rrbooktours1

The Rabbit Man Cover Reveal Spotlight

 The Fanciful, The Terrible, & The Macabre

We are thrilled to present the cover for The Rabbit Man: A Collection of Short Terrors & Flash Fiction by T.R. Slauf! How great is this cover?!

The Rabbit Man

Expected Publication Date: June 18, 2024

Genre: Horror/ Paranormal/ Short Stories

🩸Paranormal Horror
🐰Hauntings
🩸Magic Cats
🐰Guinea Pig Monsters
🩸Witch Hunting
🐰Serial Killers
🩸Unexplained Disappearances

The Fanciful, The Terrible, & The Macabre

From killers in masks, to a haunted car wash, to a demon hunting cat, The Rabbit Man is a collection of short terrors and flash fiction. Come along to hunt witches, stalk killers, and exact vengeance in a web of tales befitting your worst nightmares and most haunting daydreams.

PRE-ORDER NOW

About the Author

T.R. Slauf was born and raised in Michigan, originally studying and working in the field of Biochemistry. After having an open-heart surgery for congenital heart disease, Slauf changed career paths to pursue the passion of storytelling and published their debut novel, Hidden Realm two years later. Slauf now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with their spouse and two cats.

T.R. Slauf

Awoke Release Day Blitz Spotlight

Happy publication day and congratulations to K.T. Conte on the release of Awoke! Read on for more details!

Awoke (The Unseen War Book 1)

Publication Date: February 1, 2024

Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy

🖤Grim Reaper Forbidden Romance
🖤Black Bad-A%$ FMC
🖤Black, Scottish MMC
🖤Dystopian World Building
🖤Malcontent Spirits
🖤Anime Vibes

When the Veil between the Living and the Dead Shifts…

Turning eighteen is more than just a rite of passage for Katya Stevens; it’s a chilling awakening. Suddenly thrust into a world she’d believed was a mere figment of childhood nightmares, she finds herself where the dead refuse to rest, and the balance of life teeters perilously.

Her once-hidden ability to see the departed reveals not only the world’s deadly mysteries but also the depths of her soul. Gregor, an enigmatic Grim Reaper, isn’t just a harbinger of death but a symbol of the battling forces at play—especially The Want, spirits distorted by their defiance against the natural transition to the beyond.

But Katya’s destiny is larger than she ever imagined. A beacon in legends, she stands between hope and havoc. As she delves deeper into the ethereal realm of Ager, she confronts not just the malevolent Wanters but the shadows of her own heart and the complexities of early adulthood.

If the spiritual battles of ‘Bleach’ and the transformative journeys of ‘Sailor Moon’ captivated you, and if you’ve been enthralled by novels like ‘City of Bones’, ‘Daughter of Smoke and Bone’, and the dark supernatural realms of ‘Angelfall’, then ‘Awoke’ is your next adventure. Explore a universe where Grim Reapers serve as the staunch defenders against malevolent spirits, and where a profound forbidden romance unfolds between a mortal with unparalleled power and a Reaper. ‘Awoke’ weaves a tale inspired by the depth and drama of beloved fantasy tales and the intricate story lines of notable anime series, promising a world where every decision echoes with universe-altering consequences.

Get it on Amazon!

About the Author

K.T. Conte, a devotee of the written word and all things wild and fascinating, first discovered her passion for books at the tender age of two. Even then, as an avid reader, her journey to becoming an author was already on the horizon. An African-American author with a flair for breathing life into stories, K.T. holds a B.A. in English from Boston College and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

While she is a licensed and practicing attorney, K.T.’s first love has always remained books. The enchanting dance of words across a page and the powerful narratives they weave continues to captivate and inspire her every day. Over the years, she has shared her Massachusetts home with a delightful blend of characters – the enchanting specters in the closet, her loving husband Everett, a couple of mischievous building fairies, and her beloved daughter, Ella.

K.T. Conte

Book Release Blitz Organized By: @rrbooktours